Botswana: reviews from our travellers

"Ultimately Expert Africa was helpful with two rebookings over the pandemic but they really made the first one troublesome, first telling me to pay balance and I would get a refund if I couldn't make it and then refusing to give me the refund!!!

Inevitably, when reviewing so many different things, one is bound to make some comparisons resulting in not everyone getting an “excellent” review. Plus, I completely lost track of any individual lodge’s pricing since I bought a package to start and then we had several years of adjustments. So, I wasn’t really rating based on “value”. For example, Otjimbondona really impressed us but it might have been crazy expensive!!

Overall, it was an excellent trip and I appreciated the variety of experience. The self drive portion was much easier than anticipated and it was great having that independence after the very prescribed Botswana portion. It was absolutely beautiful reaching the coast at Luderitz (and seafood!) after so much desert time." Read full review: 37 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Excellent" Read full review: 38 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"Brilliant. I can’t imagine not using Expert Africa for a trip to Africa.

This is the second time we’ve travelled with Expert Africa and the whole experience has been amazing. I especially want to thank Megan Green - I have never experienced a travel consultant who is willing to call you (I live in Australia so considerable time difference) in order to find out about you and the type of trip that would best suit you, and respond so quickly to emails and follow up on every little query and concern with the utmost patience.

And thank you so much Megan, for recommending Andrew to us. I had never even heard of mobile safaris until you told us about Andrew’s and we are now truly hooked.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not that I can think of at present." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 3 on a Botswana safari

"Taken all together, we had a superb trip, with great sightings, wonderful guides and faultless organisation.

We just can’t wait to return!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really - it was all very good
.
Tom did advise that sightings in Hwange might be a bit thin in April but maybe that could be emphasised a bit more . We were very glad to go there but if we hadn’t had the abundance of Splash Camp in the second half we would have been a bit disappointed I suspect . But taken all together, we had a magnificent trip . Thanks !!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Great experience, everything went according to plan.
Thank you for a wonderful holiday." Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"After a traumatic year, this was an extremely welcome holiday.

The friendly and informative service from Tracy was fantastic. All aspects of the organisation from Expert Africa was as usual brilliant.

We were a family ageing from 70 to 9 and we all loved Andrew and his mobile Safari staff. We were sad to leave him.

Thank you Tracy for arranging such a super trip" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"This trip was a long time coming. I have been on safari several times and once before to Botswana My companions were newbie safari goers so it was really interesting seeing how they responded to the different locations and wildlife.

From the beginning in Windhoek to end at Stanley's camp our trip exceeded expectation. The only hiccup was in Swakopmund due to the weather and a health issue that was efficiently dealt with at a local Medical Clinic. Neither of these were in any way related to the organization of the trip by Tracy our brilliant Expert Africa organizational wizard.

The highlights of the Namibian section of the trip were Andersson's camp in the Ongava Reserve beside Etosha National Park. It was a true privilege to be so close to wild White Rhino. All three of us are keen photographers so the hide beside the watering hole was fantastic for capturing closeups of the visiting wildlife, including numerous birds. The second was Sesriem and the visit to Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. We stayed at the Hoodia camp, outside the gates to the park which meant we were unable to see the sunrise at the dunes, however watching the changing light on the dunes as the sun rose was still a fantastic experience. This location was also one of the best for astrophotography - no light pollution, no airplane light trails and clear Milky Way shots over the surrounding mountains.

Next was Victoria Falls, we experienced two evenings of torrential rain and thunderstorms, which was very unusual. We still took some great shots of rainbows in the mist of the Falls and went on an early morning river cruise - a fantastic experience. When visiting the falls make sure you have good rain gear (you can hire some from the local pedlars at the gates to the Falls) you will get soaked when the Falls are in full flood - we had 90% capacity and the viewing points above #8 were like being in a shower.

Botswana was all about wildlife and lived up to it's reputation we saw all of the big 5 several times and had fantastic sightings of leopard and at Stanley's watched a pride of lions prepare for an impala hunt. We missed the event as we had to leave for the airstrip - it's impossible to predict what wildlife will do but it was a great way to end our last day on safari.

In the circumstances of this trip I think Tracy did a brilliant job of juggling bookings that had initially been made in 2019 to work in 2022. The only glitches we had were due to the companies Expert Africa work with and most probably due to the speed with which travel ramped back up after the pandemic." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"We really enjoyed our Namibian self drive trip, lovely variety of lodges, experiences, scenery . Driving the Caprivi Strip had always been on our wish list . Its very different to other parts of Namibia and we would really recommend it.

Sabina advised us at all points and made the trip work so well. Leaving the hire car in Katima Mulilo rather than taking it across the border into Botswana was such a good suggestion . We were met by a driver and driven across border to Kasane.

Our three nights at Selinda Explorer Camp on the eastern edge of the Delta were magical. It was a fitting end to a fantastic three weeks. We nipped into Zimbabwe to seeThe Victoria Falls which were in full flood so looking and sounding magnificent.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Because we trust Expert Africa and wouldn't book with anyone else I can't really say if its good value for money. Same with the other questions really - I'm not comparing them with anyone else.

We will be back in touch soon to book another trip ." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"Because of Covid, the trip had to be rescheduled twice and this was done very willingly and very efficiently. The advice given about choosing the itinerary was superb and comprehensive. The recommendations for Sandibe Safari Lodge and Thorntree River Lodge were inspired for our purposes.

The particular selection of the five lodges gave us the breath and variety we sought having been to Africa four times previously. We were most appreciative for the advice and assurance we were given concerning Covid and the attending requirements. All transfers were made seamlessly with any assistance required.

This trip was the best yet.

Of course the animals are always there for you to find them, but the quality and variety of the lodges has risen considerably over the years and the local wine and food offerings have improved immensely. Good guiding is almost a given and the natural friendliness, charm and grace of the local people are such a plus to any safari.

Expert Africa's knowledge, experience, efficiency and reliability in making arrangements and accommodating your interests makes a great experience all the more remarkable. We owe a great big thank you to Lucy!" Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari

"Our holiday is best summed up by a travel rep we met on Safari who looked at out itinerary and commented that it "was very clever indeed".

It yielded most of what Botswana can offer on the wild life front in varied locations each with their own characteristics of flora, faurna and animals in some of the best lodges that Botswana offers. We were a very lucky couple and many thanks to Expert Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Nearly 3 years in the making with changes and cancellations and a host of really helpful suggestions from Expert Africa who showed great patience with us..............is there anything more to suggest.... NO.

Thanks Expert Africa.............you are all stars." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari